LUFS The National Society for Neighbourhood Schools in Norway .

LUFSLUFS

The National Society for The National Society for Neighbourhood Schools in NorwayNeighbourhood Schools in Norway

www.lufs.nowww.lufs.no

LUFS isLUFS is::

•A decentralized organization A decentralized organization based on volunteers.based on volunteers.

•Non-party politicalNon-party political ..

•Consultative body. Consultative body.

The aims of The aims of LUFS: LUFS:

• To maintain a To maintain a decentralized school decentralized school structure.structure.

• High quality teaching High quality teaching in small schools with in small schools with multi-age classes.multi-age classes.

Schools where people Schools where people want to live..want to live..

• Must be a basic right.Must be a basic right.• Gives quality in a growing Gives quality in a growing

up environmentup environment– Centralization will result in:Centralization will result in:

• Longer working hoursLonger working hours

• Reduced learning outcomesReduced learning outcomes

• Weaker understanding of Weaker understanding of importance of local communityimportance of local community

• Decreased healthDecreased health

• Less leisure timeLess leisure time

• Less cooperation between Less cooperation between parents and schoolparents and school

Schools in the localSchools in the local community are crucial for community are crucial for

• Good growing up Good growing up environments. environments.

• Confidence in the future Confidence in the future – and settlement– and settlement– Families with children Families with children

do not settle down in do not settle down in a community without a community without a schoola school

– Neither do businesses. Neither do businesses. – Stagnation and de-Stagnation and de-

population of rural population of rural areas?areas?

Learning in multi-age Learning in multi-age classes is positiveclasses is positive

• ““The small schools are The small schools are good schools, well good schools, well suited to the future. suited to the future. They provide a good They provide a good professional and social professional and social start in life.start in life.

• This is documented by This is documented by Norwegian and Norwegian and international research.”international research.”

(Kristoffer Melheim,senior (Kristoffer Melheim,senior university teacher, university teacher, Sogn and Fjordane Sogn and Fjordane University College, Norway)University College, Norway)

Multi-age classes teach Multi-age classes teach the basicsthe basics

• Children learn from Children learn from each other and from each other and from grown-ups, with age grown-ups, with age difference as a difference as a prime mover.prime mover.

• The children`s The children`s culture dies without culture dies without age mixing.age mixing. (Jon Roar (Jon Roar Bjørkvold, professor)Bjørkvold, professor)

Multi-age classes in big Multi-age classes in big schools.schools.

• BigBig schools are schools are adopting multi-age adopting multi-age classes – classes –

a didactic/educational a didactic/educational technique used in technique used in small schools for a small schools for a long time.long time.

• LUFS offers multi-age LUFS offers multi-age classroom training classroom training for teachers.for teachers.

Schools in rural areas– Schools in rural areas– worth fighting for..worth fighting for..• Closed down since 1986Closed down since 1986

– 800 neighbourhood schools in Norway.800 neighbourhood schools in Norway.

• IrresponsibleIrresponsible developmentdevelopment•County councillors believe restructuring saves County councillors believe restructuring saves

money.money.

•Matters are often not handled according to law.Matters are often not handled according to law.

•Alternative use of funding could have provided at Alternative use of funding could have provided at least one extra school in each Norwegian county.least one extra school in each Norwegian county.

•Quality is believed to be connected to big Quality is believed to be connected to big schools.schools.

18 special interest 18 special interest organizations support organizations support the work of LUFSthe work of LUFS

• These organizations demand that:These organizations demand that:– Central and local politicians should take Central and local politicians should take

required steps to stop closing schools.required steps to stop closing schools.– The authorities should provide a plan to The authorities should provide a plan to

maintain small schools in rural areas.maintain small schools in rural areas.– Small schools in rural districts should be Small schools in rural districts should be

established as a right.established as a right.

The Norwegian parliament The Norwegian parliament says the following says the following about LUFS:about LUFS:

• ””LUFS is doing LUFS is doing an important job an important job for parents and for parents and pupils connected pupils connected to small to small schools.”schools.”

LUFSLUFS believes: believes:

• A democracy should be based on a A democracy should be based on a public, free school system, where all public, free school system, where all can meet.can meet.

• Private schools can split communities Private schools can split communities and undermine county economies,and undermine county economies,

• closed down schools should still be closed down schools should still be allowed to carry on if they follow the allowed to carry on if they follow the national curriculumnational curriculum

• works to strengthen small schools in works to strengthen small schools in rural districts,rural districts,

• offering advice and educating offering advice and educating parents, teachers and others…parents, teachers and others…

The National Society for The National Society for

Neighbourhood Schools in NorwayNeighbourhood Schools in Norway

Contact addressContact address::

• Chairman: Brite KandalChairman: Brite Kandal 2372 Brøttum.2372 Brøttum.

brite.kandal@lufs.nobrite.kandal@lufs.no

www.lufs.nowww.lufs.no